Old notices
These pages collect together notices posted on the IUCr web site in past years. They are retained for archival interest, but there is no guarantee (or likelihood) that many of the web links found in these notices will still be active.
2017 Nobel Prize for Chemistry
Richard Henderson, recent winner of the International Union of Crystallography (IUCr) Gjønnes Medal in Electron Crystallography and IUCrJ editorial board member, has been awarded the 2017 Nobel Prize in Chemistry with Jacques Dubochet, and Joachim Frank "for developing cryo-electron microscopy (cryoEM) for the high-resolution structure determination of biomolecules in solution".
In 1995, Henderson published a rigorous theoretical analysis of the potential of cryoEM of single particles to determine atomic resolution structures of randomly oriented macromolecules. He identified key barriers to progress, particularly the need to develop better electron detectors and improved computer programs for single particle image analysis. These methods, particularly the development of new direct electron detectors with higher detection efficiency, have revolutionized cryoEM as a mainstream structural biology tool, exemplified by IUCr’s decision to launch a cryoEM section in its premier journal IUCrJ.
Professor Samar Hasnain, Editor-in-Chief of IUCr Journals commented, “Henderson continues to lead in the development of cryoEM by helping to solve remaining barriers, namely (a) the need for higher detector DQE, (b) the need to reduce beam-induced specimen charging and motion, and (c) the deleterious effect of interaction of biological macromolecules with the air-water interface during plunge freezing”.
Professor Hasnain went on to say, “Henderson’s vision and ability to identify and solve key problems while focussing on an important biological problem has transformed cryoEM, which has been adopted by X-ray based structural biologists around the world”.
In August 2017 Richard delivered his Gjønnes medal lecture at the 24th Congress and General Assembly of the IUCr in Hyderabad, India. A video of his talk entitled “From electron crystallography to single particle cryoEM” can be viewed here.
You can see a full list of IUCr papers published by Richard Henderson by clicking here.
You can see a full list of IUCr papers published by Joachim Frank by clicking here.
Picture credit: MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Columbia University Medical College, AP